Tales from Gaza: World’s Largest Prison

Local Editor

The British the Independent UK daily published a report on Saturday about the difficult living conditions of Gazans, where around 50% of the overpopulated territory suffers unemployment and "Israeli" sanctions.

"Unless you are a journalist or work for an NGO, the likelihood is that you will get stopped at "Israel's" airport-terminal-like border post at Erez, which governs who is allowed to enter the Palestinian territory and, more importantly in "Israeli" eyes, who is allowed out," the report mentioned.

Locals call Gaza "the world's biggest prison", and it's not difficult to understand why, the daily noted.
"It is like plenty of other Arab towns, just poorer, and after November's eight-day war between Hamas and "Israel", many buildings in the city center lie in ruins, like collapsed wedding cakes, after being hit by missiles."

According to the United Nations, 1.5 million people call it home, making Gaza one of the most densely populated areas on the planet. Of the 1.5 million inhabitants, 1.1 million are refugees; those who lived in what is now "Israel" before 1948 refuse to give up the belief that one day they'll return to their former homes.
However, why is life in Gaza so difficult? The obvious answer is the blockade imposed by "Israel", which justifies the sanctions on security grounds.

After the eight-day war, Gazans report that there has been an increased supply of goods, but "Israel", concerned about the prospect of rockets being fired at the south of the country and Tel Aviv, maintains its blockade.

Moreover, the daily reported a few portraits of Gazans difficult lifestyle.

The first story was of Rachad al-Hisi, 67, who has been fishing in Gazan waters since 1962.
"Gaza is in a geographically bad position for fishing. We're in the corner of the Mediterranean and the big, expensive fish don't travel this far - to get them, we've got to go further out into the sea," al-Hisi complained.

Al-Hisi was able to fish wherever he wanted, and Gaza before was vibrant, with plenty of tourists coming to enjoy the beautiful beaches and keeping the price of the day's catch high.

On this note, al-Hisi blamed two groups: the "Israelis" and the Egyptians. To find people who blame the "Israelis" for their circumstances in Gaza is not difficult, but for fishermen, the Zionist entity's policies in Gaza have direct implications.
When the daily interviewed al-Hisi, the "Israelis" only allowed Gaza's fishermen to fish six miles from the coastline, but three weeks ago, this oppressed policy changed to just three miles in response to rockets allegedly being fired from the territory into southern "Israel" during the visit of Barack Obama.

"We can only catch the big fish 10 miles out to sea, so how are we supposed to catch them now? Because of the restrictions we're catching fewer fish and making less money," he told The Independent UK.
"The Egyptians also stop us fishing in their waters, but they are taking fish from our waters too. There are species that used to be plentiful here - sea bass, red mullet - we just don't see them anymore. Of course, it's better to be arrested by the Egyptians rather than the "Israelis"," al-Hisi added.

As for farmers, the "Israeli" army prevents them from getting too close to the security wall and in many cases, the farmers have lost large tracts of land, The Independent mentioned.
For his part, Saeed Jnead, a 53-year-old farmer, was optimistic of life being better after the eight-day-war.
"Life here since the war [the eight-day war between "Israel" and Hamas in November] has improved," Jnead told the daily, explaining, "Before the fighting, it was very dangerous to be a farmer. Believe me, when one of my sons went off in the donkey cart in the morning, I always worried about whether he would ever come back."

"I want a peaceful place where my children and their families can be secure in their own land. I'm not talking about tomorrow, but we have to believe in the future, although things do change - you [the UK] used to occupy the United States, but look what's happened now, look who's stronger. It may be too late for my life, but that's what I hope for my sons," he added.

Furthermore, the daily had reported that Jnead is someone who has felt the force of the "Israeli" army since his house was destroyed during the regular incursions of 2004. "They came at midnight and in the morning. All of a sudden, my house was gone. I've still not had any explanation."
Sitting next to his 13-year-old son, Jnead added, "What will he do with this life? I want him to be a doctor or a lawyer. I have the same aspirations as any parent in the West; but here, like this, what chance does he really have?"

Also, the Independent interviewed Khaled Hamis, who had been unemployed for almost a decade.
"When we first meet 47-year-old Hamis, he is sitting with seven or eight other men who are in a similar position to him. By the time we leave, there are perhaps 40 people in the street, and none of them says they have regular work," the Independent reported.

In addition, the British daily interviewed Hassan Abdullah [not his real name], who was just about to start his eight-hour shift hauling goods up into Gaza through the Rafah Tunnel.

"What is the rest of the Arab world doing?" Abdullah asked.

"Just look at this situation. We have to get all our things through holes in the ground - who else on the planet has to do this? All we want is to live like anyone else. I want to get married, but how can I, when all the money I get goes on food?"
"And now they are flooding the tunnels. They even want to cut off the only thing that provides us with an income."

Source: The Independent, Edited by moqawama.org